Boring, complex and important: a recipe for the web's dire future

What significant innovations are emerging from Africa?

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This article was first published in the May 2016 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.

Ethel Cofie

CEO and founder, Women in Tech Africa, UK and Ghana "In Cameroon, the Cardio Pad, an affordable tablet invented by Marc Arthur Zang to monitor and discover heart-related diseases, records and processes the patient's heart signal and transfers it via mobile network to a remote station. There have been innovations in waste and recycle technologies, too. EcoPost in Kenya uses 100 per cent recycled plastics to make aesthetic, durable and environmentally friendly plastic lumber to use in landscaping. In Lagos, Wecyclers collects recyclables including plastic bottles, plastic bags and aluminium cans from households, using low-cost bicycle-powered collection vehicles."

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BARBARA MALLINSON

Founder and CEO, Obami South Africa "The biggest game changer in Africa at the moment is the BRCK, designed by Erik Hersman in Kenya. It's a brick-shaped self-powered box that connects to the internet through mobile Wi-Fi or 3G, no matter where you are. Given the struggles that Africa faces in last-mile connectivity (due to poor infrastructure, intermittent power and hundreds of other reasons), this small device could bring about massive change in terms of reaching the millions of Africans that are yet to be connected to the web."

GUSTAV PRAEKELT

"Technology startups have made basic services available to a large audience by making them more affordable. Kenyan startup M-KOPA offers a pay-as-you-go solar infrastructure to deliver stable, affordable power off-grid across East Africa. South African startup Jumo aggregates mobile wallets, making it easier to grow businesses across the continent. In South Africa, the MomConnect platform uses SMS technology to improve the health of expectant mothers."

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ELODIE DE WARLINCOURT

"The mobile industry has leapfrogged from downloads and text messaging to innovations in healthcare and agribusiness. In Angola, the VerAgua water-monitoring system transmits real-time info about breakdowns and working taps via mobiles. In Kenya, Farm Capital Africa shortlists farmers with smallholdings and helps them attract investors. In Morocco, thanks to Adnane Remmal, an alternative to livestock antibiotics has reduced health hazards to cattle and humans."

YASMIN BELO-OSAGIE

Co-founder, She Leads Africa, South Africa and Massachusetts "OmoAlata Foods, a Nigerian startup, creates stews for young professionals, primarily women. People traditionally shop for local food at markets, but more families shop for imported produce at supermarkets. In the west, this resulted in unhealthy diets and the disappearance of small-scale farming. OmoAlata works with small-scale farmers to save good produce from being lost in inefficient supply chains and provides income for rural farmers."

This article was first published in the May 2016 issue of WIRED magazine